Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

78

  
Canon EOS 500D

55

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
520 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 520 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Much cheaper $496.95 vs $924.34
Help
 The best price we've seen is $427 cheaper (around 50% less)
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
55 vs 78
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
500D:300 ms
D5100:500 ms
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
500D:3,200 ISO
D5100:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
500D:3.4 fps
D5100:4 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
500D:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
500D:15.1 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
500D:0.54x
D5100:0.51x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$548 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$650 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$625 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Focus points Many more focus points
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Me (2:49 PM, September 24, 2011)
The canon does have autofocus for video - I've got it. 
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:45 PM, July 21, 2011)
See our Canon 500D prices page!
 
TOONI (9:26 AM, July 21, 2011)
the price for canon 500d please ?